2nd Annual Business, Communication, and Leadership Conference: Because You Matter
“The Future of Work”
Title Sponsor: Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Alvernia University
Presentation Partner: Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA)
Location: John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne (401 Penn Street)
Program Overview
- Morning Coffee & Tea/Continental Breakfast: 8 to 9:15 a.m.
- Opening Remarks: Why Leadership? Why Now? 8:45 to 9:15 a.m.
- Grab-And-Go Lunch: Noon to 1:30 p.m.
- Wine & Cheese Networking Event: 3:30 to 5 p.m.
- Session Block One*: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
- Session Block Two*: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Session Block Three*: 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
- Session Block Four*: 2 to 3:15 p.m.
*Workshops offered during session block
The Business, Communication, and Leadership: Because You Matter Conference remains focused on bringing together business professionals, academics, government officials, community activists, students, and community members to support and foster dialogue around the most consequential issues of the day. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Future of Work” and includes featured sessions on entrepreneurship, leadership, podcasting, AI, community journalism, sustainability, publishing, and social media marketing.
Marquee Presenters
Jackie Hoffman
- Broadcasting Personality (formerly Y-102) & AU Communication Executive-In-Residence
Nathan Allebach
- Creative Director, Allebach Communications (AdWeek Top 100 Creative)
- Longtime Social Voice (X, formerly Twitter) for Steak-umm
Scot Case
- VP, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the National Retail Federation
Featured Authors
Jarrod Barto
- Leading international expert, speaker, and author on cybersecurity and AI
- "S.O.A.R. to New Heights: Incident Response of the Future"
Lee Bukowski
- "A Week of Warm Weather" (Spark Press)
Tracy Slonaker
- "The Angelmen Series" (Independent Publishing)
Joseph Swope
- "Dark Age Monarch: The Reign of King Arthur" (Black Rose Writing)
Participating Executives
Chris Baxter
- CEO/President, Founding Editor of Spotlight PA
David Buono
- Deputy Insurance Commissioner
George Gerhart
- Owner, Gerhart Pest Control
Chuck Holder
- Founder, Entrepreneurs' Connection
Shawn Latta
- Partner, Nuclei Data
Daniel B. Laws, Jr.
- President and CEO, DaBrian Marketing
Jarred Merriweather (AU '15, Communication)
- Senior Digital Marketing Specialist, Johnson Controls
Kathleen Murney, MBA
- Lt. Col. U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)
Parking Information
For students, staff, faculty and visitors, parking is available at the following garages:
- Chiarelli Plaza Garage, 99 N. 3rd Street, Reading
- Reading Parking Authority Garage, 613 Franklin Street, Reading
For additional Reading Parking Authority garages go to readingparking.com. Some metered on-street parking is also available.
